It looked like Holm was going to score a quick knockout, but Shevchenko survived and seem to adjust well to Holm's standup. Shevchenko counter-punched well, catching Holm as she was coming in. The fight changed entirely in round three when Shevchenko took Holm down and rode her, opening a cut over Holm's right eye.

Shevchenko started to loosen up in rounds four and five, throwing a wild spinning backfist that almost connected.